Aquaman #2 – Review
With the ridiculously strong debut that Geoff Johns made for Aquaman, it’s hard to not anticipate something just as great with its second issue. But without the element of surprise that caught us all off guard on the first issue, #2 just didn’t seem to have that same kick as its debut. With that said, this is still a fantastic read, both verbally and aesthetically. Geoff Johns keeps the same formula as issue #1, which he executes flawlessly, and Ivan Reis still manages to keep this issue as gorgeous as before, making this an issue worth picking up.
The issue picks up right where we left off, immediately diving into how Arthur and Mera are living together, trying to adjust to life in the world of Aquaman’s father. While browsing through scrapbooks and discussing their plans for living on the surface, there is evil amidst – the Trench. This issue introduces the Trench in a little more depth than before. In short, the Trench are very quick, very ugly, and very hungry. Hungry for humans. This is where the action begins.
Although this issue manages to give
us a few frames that provide a little more depth for Aquaman and Mera, as well
as their relationship, this one is definitely more focused on action
than its predecessor. Due to all of the action, this issue seemed to go by
rather quickly. Although the pace may seem rapid, as a whole Geoff Johns gave it a
very fluid feel, and it did not appear rushed in any way. Verbally, Johns is on
top of his game in this issue. With believable dialogue, the writer also managed to
throw some Aquaman stereotypes into the mix again, which I was very fond of in
the first issue. The pacing done by Johns is flawless in this aspect, and he
really managed to balance out all of the action with great dialogue.
While the
writing is top-notch, I must say that this issue wouldn’t
have been nearly as good if it wasn’t for the spectacular drawings by Ivan Reis
and coloring by Joe Prado. When it comes to action in comics, artwork can be real
hit or miss, and it is the artist’s job to make sure that it don’t miss the
mark. Ivan Reis definitely hit the nail on the head with this issue. Each frame
is drawn exquisitely, making every transition from frame to frame as smooth as
possible. Even during the quiet moments of this issue, each character’s
emotion is vividly described, which brings a whole other tier to the level of
storytelling. Prado’s coloring complemented Reis’s drawings
perfectly, making each frame eye-catching and beautiful.
As I
said earlier, this issue definitely isn’t as jaw-dropping as the debut was, but
that doesn’t change the fact that Aquaman #2 is still an excellent read for
anybody who enjoyed Aquaman #1, or superhero comics in general. With
solid writing by Geoff Johns, and beautiful artwork by Ivan Reis and Joe Prado,
this isn’t an issue to miss. Ladies and gentlemen, it appears that Aquaman is
here to stay.
